M4.8 earthquake strikes eastern Japan, including Chiba Prefecture

TOKYO - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.8 struck eastern Japan early Thursday, with shaking felt in Chiba Prefecture, the weather agency said.

The 4:13 a.m. quake originated in the northeastern part of the prefecture at a depth of about 50 kilometers, registering 4 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale in Asahi, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.